Asia - Europe Business

China Mobile Users Total 595M in Feb

 

China Mobile’s total users increased by 5.65 million in February to 595 million in total. Its 3G users increased by 1.91 million in February to 24.55 million in total.

China Unicom announced that its 3G users increased by 1.21 million in February to 16.68 million in total.

China Telecom has yet to release its February data.

Lisa

China Telecom To Integrate CDMA & LTE Networks In 17 Provinces

China Telecom aims to standardize and commercialize the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard and integrate its operation with CDMA in 17 provinces before the end of the year, citing Zhang Jiping, the company’s vice general manager.

The state-owned company’s third-generation (3G) network covers more than 300 cities and 2,055 counties in China.

By the end of March this year, mobile users of China Unicom reached 65.45 million, of whom 3G users totaled 5.57 million.

Lisa

China Telecom in JV with Chunghwa Telecom to Launch iEN Service

 

Chunghwa Telecom conducted a series of intelligent energy management system (iEN) service tests with China Telecom in order to prepare for the launch of iEN services in mainland China.

Chunghwa Telecom said its mainland-based joint venture launched its iEN business in July. It has since signed up insurance companies as customers.

Separately, Chunghwa Telecom had announced on July 27 that it will invest $6 million to set up a subsidiary in mainland China.

The subsidiary is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2011. It will focus mainly on information and communication technology services including energy saving services, 3G value-added services and other related services.

Lisa

Huawei, ZTE Win Lion's Share of China Mobile's Tender

 

China Mobile has announced the winners of the tender for the construction of the company's fourth phase TD-SCDMA network. 

Huawei snagged 28 percent to 29 percent of the total. ZTE Corporation won 22 percent to 23 percent of the total. DT Mobile won 18 percent to 19 percent while Fiberhome was awarded five percent of the total.

China Mobile will invest approximately 10 billion yuan in the fourth phase of the TD-SCDMA network construction, up 16 percent from the 8.6 billion yuan invested in the third phase. 

The project will increase the number of China Mobile's base stations to 102,000.

In addition, the coverage of the company's TD-SCDMA network will increase by 101 cities from 238 cities previously.

Lisa

China Unicom Will Grant Subsidies For Purchases of 3G Mobiles

 

China Unicom said that it will grant subsidies of between 316 yuan and 5,316 yuan on purchases of 3G mobile phones.

The subsidies are available for subscribers who sign up for 3G service packages and who deposit a certain amount in advance.

A subsidy of 316 yuan will be granted on the purchase of 3G mobile phones should the user subscribe to the 66 yuan package.

A subsidy of 5,316 yuan will be granted to those who choose the 886 yuan package.

Lisa

China Telecom Carriers Announce June Stats

 

China Mobile recorded 5.06 million new subscribers in June, compared with 4.77 million new subscribers in May, to bring its total number of customers to 554.04 million, the company announced July 20. Its 3G network users reached 10.46 million by June 30, compared with 9.32 million by the end of May, according to the announcement.

China Unicom added 1.03 million 3G users and 643,000 2G users in June, bringing 3G and 2G user totals to 7.56 million and 149.4 million, respectively. The company gained 831,000 broadband users in the month to reach a total of 43.76 million, while fixed-line users fell by 275,000 to 100.85 million.

China Telecom had a total of 181.07 million fixed-line subscribers by the end of June, after losing 0.89 million during the month, while the carrier's broadband subscriber base grew by 880,000 to 58.33 million by the end of June. The company's mobile user base increased by 3.02 million in June to reach a total of 74.52 million, including CDMA and PHS subscribers.

Lisa

China Unicom Added 1.03 3G Users in June

 

China Unicom recorded 643,000 new 2G mobile users in June, thus, the number of new 3G users increased by 1.03 million in June.

In addition, the number of its broadband subscribers rose by 831,000 in June, bringing the total number of its broadband subscriber base to 43.759 million.

There was a reduction in the number of fixed-line users by 275,000 in June.

Lisa

China Releases Detailed "Three Networks" Pilot Plan

 

China has released a "Three Network Convergence Pilot Plan" to relevant network operators, clarifying issues and procedures for building a network linking telecommunications, cable TV and Internet networks in several pilot cities. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's (SARFT) affiliated broadcasters will be responsible for sourcing, producing, broadcasting and supervising contents of internet protocol television (IPTV) and mobile television. Contents and programs by telecommunications companies affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will also be subject to inspection by SARFT organizations.

Each pilot city's IPTV transmission will be operated by a telecom company, while mobile TV transmission will be operated by qualified telecom companies or joint ventures between SARFT and MIIT. Cable based Internet connections and domestic IP telephone services will be operated by either a single cable TV network enterprise or a joint venture between SARFT and MIIT.

The plan also detailed telecom related businesses that broadcasting companies can conduct as well as audio and video services that telecom companies can offer.

The State Council approved a draft plan to conduct a pilot network linking telecommunications, cable TV and Internet networks in early June and announced the first batch of cities to pilot the convergence on July 1.

Lisa

Big Three Operators Suffer Losses From 3G Investments

 

China's big three telecom operators are currently suffering losses due to their 3G ventures, reported by sina.com.cn.

China Unicom , China Telecom, and China Mobile had invested a collective 200 billion yuan on the establishment of their 3G networks.

Investments are expected to drop by 21.2 percent year-on-year in 2010 due to a decline in the investments by China Telecom and China Unicom in their respective CDMA2000 and WCDMA networks.

According to the report, the 3G operators can expect to break-even once the 3G penetration rates reach 15-20 percent, with China Unicom likely to be the first operator to achieve it in 2011. The company had 6.53 million 3G users as of end May with a penetration rate of 4.2 percent.

The number of 3G users that China Telecom has totaled 5.57 million in the first quarter, with a penetration rate of 8.5 percent.

China Mobile has a 3G user base of 8.4 million, with a penetration rate of 1.5 percent.

Lisa

China Unicom May Launch iPhone 4 During National Day Holiday Period

 

China Unicom may launch the iPhone 4 during the National Day holiday period from October 1 to October 7, reports China Business News.

However, Wang Changcheng, the manager of China Unicom's online software center, announced today that China Unicom plans to launch the Wi-Fi equipped iPhone 4 this September.

Yu Yingtao, the general manager of China Unicom sales division, previously said that the iPhone 4 would enter the Chinese market in the fourth quarter of the year.

Lisa